Vietnam may have earned its global culinary reputation through street food, but the newly unveiled MICHELIN Guide Hanoi | Ho Chi Minh City | Da Nang 2026 suggests the country’s fine dining scene has become a most compelling reason to visit.
The MICHELIN Guide Hanoi | Ho Chi Minh City | Da Nang 2026 edition has just landed, and for the first time since the guide arrived back in 2023 the number of starred restaurants has reached double digits, with 11 One MICHELIN Star establishments now spread across the three cities. The milestone may seem symbolic, but it represents something far more significant — the emergence of a mature fine dining ecosystem now capable of standing alongside many of Asia’s established culinary capitals.
We know, you’re there for the local eats. Vietnam’s extraordinary informal dining culture remains one of the great pleasures of travel to this part of Asia. A bowl of phở on a Hanoi sidewalk. Bánh mì from a crowded market stall. Fresh seafood by the beaches of Da Nang.
But hear us out.
Aside from the 11 One MICHELIN Star restaurants, the Guide’s fourth edition also features 72 Bib Gourmand venues and 110 MICHELIN Selected addresses for a total of 193 recommended establishments. The breadth of the selection demonstrates how Vietnam’s dining scene is evolving beyond traditional expectations. Sure, visitors can — and totally should — still enjoy some of the region’s finest street food, but they now also have the option to embark on multi-day dining itineraries anchored by ambitious tasting menus, thoughtful wine programmes and chefs increasingly confident in expressing Vietnamese identity through contemporary cuisine.
That confidence is perhaps most evident among the country’s newest stars. Hanoi’s ONVIT became the first Korean contemporary restaurant in Vietnam to earn a MICHELIN Star, reflecting both the growing sophistication of the market and the increasingly international influences shaping the country’s culinary landscape.
In Ho Chi Minh City, Upstairs was recognised for Chef Hiệp Trương’s intimate interpretation of modern Vietnamese cuisine anchored in the traditions of Central Vietnam.
Then there are the stalwarts. Gia in Hanoi, for example, has been something of a standard-bearer for modern Vietnamese gastronomy and its continued retention of its Michelin star since the inaugural edition reflects consistency, technical precision and a deeply researched approach to Vietnamese culinary heritage. Likewise there’s Ănăn by Chef Peter Cuong Franklin, one of the most influential restaurants in Southeast Asia whose continued inclusion reinforces Ho Chi Minh City’s position as a hub for modern Vietnamese cuisine.
But if you really prefer street food? The MICHELIN Guide Hanoi | Ho Chi Minh City | Da Nang 2026 edition’s Bib Gourmand also has you covered. Awardees include the likes of Bánh Cuốn Gia Truyền Thanh Vân in Hanoi, a family-run eatery operating since 1973 selling bánh cuốn, its delicate hand-made rice rolls prepared from scratch using traditional techniques and served with a carefully-balanced dipping sauce.
Otherwise you have Da Nang’s Bà Vui, which serves only bún gà and xôi gà yet has built a reputation strong enough to earn recognition for these central Vietnamese street favourites, or Bánh Canh Cua Bà Ba in Ho Chi Minh City if you’re craving its iconic rich orange crab noodle soup.
For international travellers planning their next culinary pilgrimage, the appeal of Vietnam has never been clearer. Unlike some of Asia’s more mature gastronomic destinations where reservations can be fiercely competitive and prices increasingly stratospheric — we’re looking at you, Singapore and Bangkok — Vietnam still offers a sense of discovery. The country’s finest restaurants remain relatively accessible, its culinary talent is ascending rapidly, and the breadth of experiences available across Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang continues to expand.
Time to pen in your Vietnam eating escapade.
For the full list of MICHELIN Guide Hanoi | Ho Chi Minh City | Danang 2026 winners, visit: https://guide.michelin.com/vn/en.
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